Recording speedometer



Aug. 15, 1939. A. DE MAR-NLE RECORDING SPEEDOMETER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1937 n mmfnn ,En E .w

Aug. 15, 1939. A. DE MARTILE HECORDIIW:l SPEEDOMETER Filed Aug. 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BRAMO DE MART/LE BY m g5 e EY for producing\a. quick Patented Aug. 15V-,11939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE k2,169,230 RECORDING sPEEnoMEri-:n

Abramo De Martile, Crockett, Calif. Application August s, 1937, gserial No. 157,717v

7 claims. (cuasi-3s) The present invention relates to recording in` struments and more particularly to a recording speedometer in which a traveling chart is periodically perforated to make a permanent record of the velocities attained by the vehicle at any particular time during a recorded distance of travel.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and novel form of recording speedometer in ,which a moving chart is associated with a speed indicating pointer in a periodic recording upon the chart of the velocities attained by the vehicle at particular points within the distance traveled.

vA further object of the invention is to provide in a recording speedometer of the type having means for periodically recording velocities attained by the vehicle, an additional means which wil1 indicate the distance traveled by the vehicle after the last velocity recording has been made upon the chart. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for a recording speedometer of the type employing a moving record receiving chart by which the chart maybe conveniently marked at the start and nish of a particular trip to provide for an association of the recordings upon the chart with a definite distance of travel.

Another object of the invention is to providea new and novel form of quick acting mechanism for operating a chart perforating needle in a recording instrument of the type employing a moving chart which is periodicallyv perforated to provide a record.

Other objects and advantages will be in part evident to those skilled in the art to`which this invention appertains,and will be in part pointed out hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation, preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view partially in section arid with portions of the cover broken away to dis close the arrangement of the elements,

Figure 2 is a vertical side view in section and with parts broken away to disclose the internal mechanism of the device,

Figure 3 is a plan view partially in section taken along line III-III of Figure 2,

Figures 4 a'nd 5 are fragmentary views Ashowing in detail two positions of a form of mechanism perforating actionof the chart perforating means,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken manner which/will permit a' along line IV-IV of Figure 1, looking in direction of arrows,

Figures 7 and 8 show two different forms of a quick action producing mechanism for operating the chart perforating means of the recording instrument, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing the initial position of the parts illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings the various elements *f the device are mounted within an enclosing housing III. The front of the housing I has a cover II with an opening in which a glass I2 is secured and through which approximately one hundred miles of recordings upon a-movable record receiving chart I3 are visible. The record receiving chart I 3 Vis adapted to be unwound from a supply spool I4 and wound upon a second spool I5-whe`n the device is in operation. As shown,

the chart is carried from the spool I4 over a guidev roller I6 andvdownwardly in a vertical plane over a. second guide roller I'I upon which there are formed projections I8 that engage corresponding perforations in the edge of the chart I3. 'Ihe guiding roller I 'I is adapted to be driven in a continuous manner when the vehicle with which the device is used is in operation, and as a result the chart I 3 will move in synchronism with the vehicle. Disposedjover the end'of the chart I3 there is a graduationcarrying dial I9 graduated in terns of miles pel'i'our. Associated with the dial I9 there is a movable arm-20 which carries a pointer 2i thatjserves to locate'a reading upon-,the dial. The movable arm 20 is pivotally mounted centrally of and at the lower end of the chart I3, so that its free end will move in an arc over the chart I3 andV beneath the graduation carrying dial I9. The movement of the arm 20 is here shown as controlled by a speed responsive mechanism 22 that may be-of any particular type which will move the arm 20 a distance corresponding to the speed of the vehicle. A

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the speed responsive mechanism 22 is arranged to be driven by a centrally disposed shaft 23 that is adapted to be driven in a continuous manner through worm gears 24 and 25 from a flexible shaft 26' speedometer shaft 23 there is a worm wheel 21 which meshes with a worm 23 carried by a shaft lby the chart guiding roller l1. This arrangement insures a constant movement of the chart I3 whenever the vehicle with which the device is used is in forward motion. .Disposed outwardly from the gear 3| there is a V-pulley 32 over which a coiled spring belt 33 is disposed. 'I'he spring belt 33 extends around a second V-pulley 34 attached to the end of the chart take-up spool I5, and adjacent the V-pulley 34 there is a third smaller V-pulley 35 about which a; second coiled spring belt 36 is disposed, This spring belt 36 iscrossed and extends in its crossed condition about another V-pulley 31 upon'the chart carrying spool I4. The use of the coiled springbelts 33 and 36 in' this particular arrangement provides a slipping drive for the spools I4 and l5, and by the able chart I3 will be maintained taut betweenthe guide rollers I6 and I1, irrespective of the diameter of the roll from which or upon which the chart I3 is being wound; At this point it should -be noted that the V-pulleys 35 and' 31, about which the spring belt 36 extends, are smaller in diameter than the V-pulleys 32 and 34, about which the spring belt 33 extends. This will cause A a slippageA ofl the belt 36 at a lower load value than that at which the spring belt 33 will slip,

' and thus insure a positive movement of the chart will be possible, at various points along the traveled distance indicated'by the chart I3, to determine what the speed of the vehicle was at any particular point along the trip where'a. perforation is formed in the chart.

The chart perforating feature of the invention,

- as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings,

will now be described. In the arrangement illustrated, the movable arm 20 carries a chart perforating pin 39 which, in cooperation with a punch plate 40 disposed 'beneath the chart I3,

` will perforate the chart whenever the arm 20 is depressed or moved toward the chart. The chart p rforating movement of Athe perforating pin 39 may be obtained in a number of different ways. In the present instance, since the movable arm 20 is of considerable length and sufficiently flexible to permit a depression there'of without interfering with its normal operation, I have, in accordance with this disclosure, mounted the'dial I9 so that it may be moved toward the chart I3 at predetermined intervals. A movement of the dial I9 will then, because of its'overlapping relation, fiexthe arm 20 and cause the pin-39 to perforate the chart. This is accomplished by attaching each end o f the dial plate I9 to a rearwardly extending arm or link 4I which is slideably mounted in a guide 42. The arms or links 4I are then connected with any suitable snap action producing mechanism which will perireversal of the spring belt 36,1a's shown, the movany but a forward direction. Mounted upon the odically cause these arms or links 4I to be quickly drawn-in and released. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the links 4I are connected at' their rear ends with vertically disposed levers 43 that are biased in a right-hand direction, as viewed in Figure 2, by atension spring 44. Each lever 43 is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a support 45, and the spring 44 is connected between an intermediate point of'the lever 4 3 and the back wall ofthe housing I0. At the upper end of each lever 43 there is a continuously rotating cam 46 which, in cooperation with a second lever 41, operates in a novel way to produce a quick snap-like reciprocation of the dial plate I9, as will be hereinafter pointed out. 'I'he cams 46 are shown as mounted upon a horizontally disposed shaft 49 that is'continuously driven by a vertical shaft 49 and a worm and gear connection 50 between these shafts. At the lower end of the vertical shaft 49 there is a second worm and gear driving connection I which connests this latter shaft with the drive shaft 23 vof the recording speedometer. l When the recording speedometer is in operation, it will be seen that the moving chart I3 will .be periodically perforated at points corresponding to a definite point of travel by the vehicle with which it is used. For example, by aproper driving connection between the vehicle and the perforating mechanism, the chart I3 may vbe perforated at the end of each one hundred feet of travel of Athe vehicle, as would be a preferred arrangementl for vehicles used in congested districts, or the chart may be perforated at the end of each one hundred yards of travel or at greater distances where the vehicle is operating on the open highway. Since the purpose Y of this recording instrument'is to provide a means for checking the velocities attained on a trip, and in emergencies may be resorted to for the purpose of determining just what the speed of the vehicle .was at'the time of an emergency, the invention also contemplates a further advantageous feature which will provide anindication of the distance traveledby the vehicle from the last perforation upon the chart I3 to a subsequent stopping of theJvehicle. For this purpose the device is provided with an indicating drum 52 which is driven by a drect,1:1 ratio chain and sprocket connection 53 from the shaft 48. .With this form of driving connection it will be seen that the drum -52 will make one complete revolution for each revolution of the perforator actuating cam 46. Therefore by providing a graduated scale in terms of feet or yards about the periphery of the drum 52 it will be possible, by viewing the periphery of the drum-through an aperture 54 upon the housing I6, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, to determine just how 'manyvfeet or yards the vehicle has traveled since the last perforationwas made upon the chart. I3, or if desired, to determine how 'many more feet or yards the vehicle will travel before the next velocity recording will be made upon the chart I 3. As-illustrated in this gue of the drawings, the device is shown as indicating that the vehicle has traveled ninety-ve feet or yards from the point at which the last velocity recording was made upon the chart, and that a subsequent recording will be made upon the chart when the zero upon the drum 52 reaches the indicating position at thecenter of the opening 56. In this showing it is assumed that the drum. 52 is adapted to cooperate with a chart perforating mechanism that an overhanging end upon operates at the end of every one hundred feet or yards of travel, and as a result, it will be equally divided about its periphery into one hundred graduations.

Reference is now made to Figures 4, 5 and 9 of the drawings for a detailed description of the arrangement .and manner in which the levers 43 and 41 cooperate with the cam 46 to produce the above described quick or snap action of the chart perforating needle 33. In these figures of the drawings it will be noted that the second lever 41 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a support closely adjacent the cam 46, and has a downwardly extending end against which a compression spring 56 exerts a pressure to maintain the upper end of the lever 41 in engagement with the surface of the cam 46. An

important feature of the levers 43 and 41 is that the latter lever extends slightly beyond the end of the lever 43, so that as the cam 46 rotates in a clockwise direction, the lever 43 will be released in advance 'of a release of the lever 41 and permit the lever 43 to assume the position illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. compression spring 56, which operates upon'the second lever 41, will be fully compressed. After the cam 46 has moved a further distance sumcient to release the second lever 41, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the second lever 41 will be likewise released,and as a result, the compression spring 56, which is more powerful than the spring 44, will overcome the latter spring, and by virtue of an interlocking connection, provided between the levers 43 and 41, by the projection 51 upon the lever 41, the spring 56 will move the lever 43 back into its original inoperative position. When the lever 43 drops o'il' theI high point of the cam 46, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings it will be understood that the dial plate 9 will be drawn inwardly with a quick snap-like cause the pin 39 to perforate the chart. This quick snap-like movement of the lever 43 will be followed closely by a similar movement of the lever 41, and as a result the perforating pin 39 will be quickly withdrawn without interfering with the normal movement of the chart.

In Figure 6 -of the drawings there is illustrated in detail a further feature of the invention, which is provided for the purpose of associating the velocity recordations upon the chart I3 with a denite pointl during any particular trip. For this purpose there is mounted at a convenient point upon the front of the housing |6 a manually operable push button 56, by means of which the edge of the chart I3 may be punched or perforated at V`the beginning and end of any particular trip. As shown, this is accomplished in a simple manner by associating ,the push button 58 with a flexible spring member 59 having which there is vformed a chart perforating projection 66. The chart perforating projection 66 is shown in this ligure of the drawings as disposed over apunch'plate 6|, which will serve to hold the chart at this point when the perforation is made in the chart.

While there has been described above a preferred form of'actuating mechanism for producing `a quick or snap-like action of the chart perforating pin 39, it will beunderstood that this action may be accomplished in out departing from the spirit of this invention.

In Figure 7 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of snap action producing mechanism that may also be associated with the links at this point the the above action.

other ways with# position outwardly from the periphery of the diskl 66 by a spring 61. Surrounding the major portion of the -disk 66,f and in the path of the impact weight 65, there is a stationary flange or re member 68 that retracts the weight 65 to recoil the spring 61. 'I'he retaining member 66 is open adjacent the lower end of the lever 62, and as a result, the impact weight will be released at this' point during each revolution of the disk 66 and strike the impact shoe 64 upon the lever 62, and thus move the upper end of this lever to the right and cause thel link 4| to move the dial plate 9, as above described.

In Figure 8 of the drawings there is shown a further modification of a quick acting mechanism that may be, resorted to for the purpose of producing a reciprocating motion of the links 4| to accomplish a perforation of theY chart |3.in a manner similar lto that described above. In this arrangement, like in the previously described embodiments, the shaft 48 is used to drive the mechanism. This mechanism4 comprises a member 63 that is rotatably mounted upon and adjacent an end of the shaft 48. The member 66 carries a slidable latch member 16 which, when extended which a gear 14 f secured upon the end of the shaft 46 will coopers ate. In addition to slidably supporting the latch member 16 and the also has a crank 15 that is disposed outwardly beyond the end of the shaft 48 to whichv one of the links 4| is adapted to be connected. As shown in this ligure of the drawings, the latch member 16 has been moved to the left and is about to disengage the abutment 1|. This movement of the latch member 16, it will be understood, has been accomplished by a rotation of the gear 14 which, as shown, engages the rack I3 upon the latch 16. During this movement of the latch member 16 the spring 'l2 will `be compressed, and as a result, it will become operative immediately upon disengagement between the extending end of the latch 16 and the abutment 1| to project the latch member 16 outwardly, but in so doing, because of the relatively slower movement of the gear 14, the rack 13 will move gear 14 and carry the member 69 around the shaft 46 in a clockwise direction and into a position where the extending end of the'latch member relative to the" spring 12 the member 69 16 will again engage the abutment 1|, as shown by dot and 'dash lines in the drawings, after left by the continued rotation ofthe gear 14 upon the shaft 48 and again disengaged with the abutment 1|, as above During the above rotation of the member 63 it Willbe seen that, because of the eccentricity of described, for a. repetition of it will be seen that the dial plate will be likewise reciprocated, and thus deiiect the arm and cause the pin 39 to perforate the chart I3 in a. quick acting manner.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated speciiic devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the speciic means disclosed, but

`may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It

- is believed that this inventionis new and it is desired, to claim -it so that all such changes as come within the 'scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. A combined indicating and recordingspeedometer comprising in combination a record receiving chartdriven in proportion to the travelof'a vehicle, a speed indicating pointer mounted to swing across'said chart, a chart perforating Ameans carried by saidpointer, a speedindicating dial plate movable periodically to cause said means td perforate said chart, means controlling the movement of said dial plate vcomprising a continuously rotating camhaving an abrupt point of release thereupon, a lever associated with said cam and connected, with said dial plate,l a spring operable upon said lever to bias same against said cam in a perforator operating direction, a second lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and biased into engagement with said cam by a more powerful spring operating in a -direction opposite to that of said first spring,

said second lever being slightly longer than said rst lever whereby a release of said rst lever will occur prior to a' release of said second lever, and a cooperating connection between, said two levers-adapted to move said iirst lever against the action of said rst spring immediately upon release of said second lever by said cam.

2. In a recording speedometer of the character described, the combination of a movable chart driven in proportionv to the travel of a vehicle,

a perforating pin movable over said chartin re' sponse to the speed of the vehicle, means cooperating with'said pin adapted to move said pin into perforating relation with the chart, a pivotally mounted lever connected to said means, a vspring for biasing said lever `for movement in a direc-- tion to perforate said chart, a cam adapted to engagethe end of saidlever for retaining same in an inoperative position, andalso permit thev same'to move in response tosaid bias at a predetermined point during a revolution of said cam,

'a second pivotally mounted lever adjacent said.

iirst' lever also engaging said cam with its end in cam engaging relation with `the end'of said rst lever, a spring means for biasing the trailing end of said second lever into engagement with said cam, said second spring being more powerful and operable in a direction opposite to that of said rst spring and being adapted upon a release of said second lever by said cam to m'ove said rst lever into its inoperative position with respect to said chart perforating means substantially as described.

3. In a chart perforating attachment for re- I cording speedometers of the character described,

the combination of a movable chart drivenl in proportion to the travel of a vehicle, a pointer having a chart perforating pin movable over Y 2,169,230 connected to the dial plate I 9, as described above,

said chart in response to the speed of the vehicle, means associated with said pointer adapted to move said pin into perforating relation withthe chart irrespective of the position of said pointer upon said chart, a pivotally mounted lever connectedadjacent its free end to said means, a spring for biasing said lever and means for movement in a direction to perforate said chart, a

' cam engaging the end of said lever for retaining being adapted upon a release of said second lever by said cam to engage and move said iirst lever into an inoperative position.'

4. In a combined indicating and recording speedometer, the combination of a record receiving chart adapted to be driven in synchronism withthe travel of a vehicle,.a speed responsive device having an indicating pointer adapted to swing transversely across said moving record receiving chart, said chart having mileage indicat-- y ing graduations arranged along one edge thereof and having graduations corresponding to velocity extending in the'direction of travel of said chart,

a dial plate having velocity indicating indicia thereupon disposed in front Vof said chart and with which the pointer of said speed responsive device cooperates to indicate the velocity of the vehicle at any particular mileage point in the travel of the vehicle, said velocity indicating dial being mounted for movement toward said chart, chart perforating means carriedby said pointer vand movable to perforate said'chart when said velocity' indicating dial is moved toward said chart, a cam'operated mechanism driven in syn- 'chronism with said chart having a cam engaging leverv connected to said velocity indicating dial plate to cause said dial plate to periodically move toward said chart to effect a perforationthereof to record upon said chart the velocity obtaining at that time, anda second lever associated with said rst lever also cooperating with said cam and operating to 'move said iirst' lever out of engagement with said cam to prevent the chart perforating means from interfering with the normal movement of said record receiving chart.

5. In a combined indicating and recording speedometer, in combination, a record receiving chart adapted to be driven in proportion to the travel of a vehicle, a speed responsive device having an indicating pointer adapted to swing across said moving chart, said chart having mileage indicating graduations arranged along one edge thereof and having graduations corresponding to velocity extending in the direction of travel of the chart, an arcuate dial plate having velocityi indicating indicia thereon disposed in front of said chart and parallel therewith and cooperating with said pointer to indicate thervelocity of said vehicle at any particular point in the travel of the vehicle, said dial plate being mounted for movement' toward and from said chart,chart perforating means carried by said pointer and movable to perforate said chart when said dial plate is moved towardsaid chart, apair of identig5 -having a `cam engaging lever connected -to said dial plate to cause said plate to move periodically toward said chart to effect a perforation thereof, each cam having a second lever cooperating with -said first lever to move said rst lever out of engagement with said cam to move said chart perforating means away from said chart.

6. A combined indicating and recording speedometer mechanism, including in combination, a

record receiving chart adapted to be driven inY proportion to the travel of a vehicle, a speed re.

sponsive indicating pointer mounted to swing transversely across the chart, said chart having mileage indicating graduations along one edge thereof and having graduations corresponding to velocity extending in the direction of travel of the chart, a dial plate having velocity indicating indicia thereon, extending across the front of the chart and cooperating with said pointer,

5 chart perforating means carried by said pointer and movable by said plate to perfora said chart, a casing enclosing said mechanism, a pair of levers pivoted near the bottom of said casing and extending upwardly above said dial plate and attached thereto for moving said yplate toward and i from said chart, a second pair of levers pivoted adjacent the upper part of said casing and cooperating with said first levers, a pair of identical cams driven in proportion to the travel of said chart, each cam cooperating with one of the first-mentioned levers to move the dial plate toward the chart to perforate the chart and also cooperating with one of the second pair of levers to move the dial plate away from said chart.

7. 'I'he combination claimed in claim 4 in which the rst lever is provided with a spring to bias said lever in engagement with said cam and in which said second lever is provided with a spring to bias said second lever towards said cam and to move said first lever away from said cam.

ABRAMO DE MARTILE. 

